JDLaStew..........
Slow and steady wins the race....you should lose no more than 2 lbs per week. Some folks may lose 5 their first week, but that is mostly water.
Then you have folks like me who lose maybe a half pound a week...and you know what, that's okay too. It's better than a gain.

This is not really a race to the finish line, but a new way of living. Be patient with yourself.

I know it sounds cliche too but you have to add up all your little losses.. many of us that have been on for a while will swear to you we used to pull our hair out when each week we would see a 0.4 drop or a 0.8 drop, then maybe a slight gain or a slight loss.. but you have to really hang in there and eventually all those little numbers add up. If you had asked me in September if I believed I would have been doubtful but the people on this forum made me hang in and now it's 65lbs ago.
Dan I put in a recipe a long time ago for Kung Pao shrimp in our threads.. it's great and you can substitute chicken.. I'll see if I can bump it up for you!

Newbies.. keep going at it and stay strong.. it works!

JDLaStew - I believe I'm the one who mentioned I had lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks. Although I don't want this to sound defensive, but I was not feeding a line. That result came after a 3 week plateau and I was just demonstrating how I had been feeling frustrated as up to that point I had been losing 3.5 to 4 lbs a week, so to go from that rate to nothing I was starting to get worried myself. In no way was I meaning to indicate that everyone should lose at that rate as well. As Joni says an average is 2 lbs per week, which means that some will lose faster and some slower. I have also heard that how fast you lose can be influenced by how much you have to lose in total, I started at 350 lbs so have considerably more to lose than you do.

I guess to make a long story short, what I'm trying to say is everyone is an individual and will lose at different rates. So just hang in there, it will come off!

Great movement on the ticker Val!!

Kristen I don't know if I mentioned it but your new pic is beautiful. That must have been terribly romantic

Thanks Kristen! I was happy with it, but of course now it has stalled again this week. Oh well, keep on truckin', right?

Jrny--yes I saw were you lost 12lbs and congrats! I re-read what I wrote and the whole "Is this normal or are they feeding me a line was supposed to be directed to the counselors telling me it's ok to lose 1.8 in the first week--not directed to the weight you lost. I think it's great especially after weeks of stalling--if anything it keeps me motivated and not discouraged. I'm sorry for not reading my post before editing--I see now I probably sounded rude...and I'm sorry for whining away--got any cheese? Ha! I stress way too much--I know this. I'm gonna keep on going. Even if the scales aren't moving as fast as I would have thought--like they did in WW--I feel better. I've been walking about a mile to a mile and a half (when I'm not pushing a 35lb kid in a stroller!) and it's all up and down hills--I live in WV so it comes with the territory. I can tell my tummy isn't as "poochy." I feel better. I know it's going to be slow. I'm over my own little freak out. You just get worried that with the amount of money spent, that it might not work--again! Diet after diet! Ack!

Anyway, I appreciate the tips--I was eating fruit late. Heck, I appreciate every comment. I think with support and advice, tips, etc. I can make it through better--my son was even chanting you can do it mommy as I pushed him up a steep hill in the 85 degree heat. Ha.

I go weigh in again tomorrow. I look forward to the numbers--either great or small--going down!

Jrny--Let me publicly apologize if I took away from your joy of losing 12lbs! I feel like such a heel. I'm sorry guys. :( I promise--no more stinkin' thinkin' from me!

JDLaStew - No worries! I didn't mean to sound like I took offense at what you said - honestly, I didn't. As with many people, I have tried many different diets, and this is the first one I have found that works for me and that I don't feel deprived on - well, except for my Timmie's doughnuts, of course. Now if only I could find a way to work those into the plan - LOL!

Cool Kristen, thanks!